Improvements make county roads safer

Rayma Silvers/Tribune photo After installing both a seven-feet high pipe and a 48 inch tall pipe, Bourbon County Public Works employees construct a new bridge to replace the low-water bridge that used to be on Limestone Road just east of town. The new bridge will make passage on the busy county road possible even after heavy rainfall.

Area residents who often travel east of town on Limestone Road will soon find passage on this road a much safer experience.

Due to the many thunderstorms that have blown through the local area recently, the low-water bridge located just past 255th Street on Limestone Road has spent a lot of time under water. The high waters, which would quite often creep over the bridge, had begun to erode the bridge causing half of the bridge to become impassable even after the waters had receded.

According to Bourbon County Second District Commissioner Bill Brittain, county road employees closed the bridge to traffic about three weeks ago after heavy rains caused it to flood. Since that time, the road crew has been working diligently to give the bridge a lift.

Bourbon County Public Works employee Clyde Killion said county workers have been reconstructing the bridge. After adding one seven foot tall galvanized pipe and one 48 inch tall pipe to the bridge area, the road workers began to build a new crossing over the top of the creek.

Brittain said the new bridge, which will be about four feet higher than the former bridge, will not flood as often as the low-water bridge that it is replacing. Keeping the road passable for residents, Brittain said, is important as it is a highly traveled road.

Killion said, with the new pipes and the height of the new bridge, it will be more difficult for rain waters to flood the bridge. The new pipes will allow water to get from one side of the road to the next at a faster rate of speed, he said. According to Killion, the new bridge should be open to traffic within a week depending on the weather.

Brittain said the bridge upgrade is just one of the many projects that the county road crew is working on. With about 1,000 miles of county roads to over see, it can be difficult to keep the roads in good shape. In an effort to keep all of the county roads in good condition, Killion said he has assigned sections of road to the members of his crew. Bourbon County Public Works employee Gene Bailey keeps track of 140 miles of road making repairs as necessary, and Bourbon County Public Works employee Randy Hayden takes care of 125 miles of road. Other employees have been assigned sections of road as well, but Bailey and Hayden have the most miles on their routes. Killion said the road workers try to cover all of their roads at least once every two weeks. However, special projects such as the new bridge on Limestone and hazardous weather conditions can sometimes keep them from making their rounds as quickly.

According to Brittain, the road crew is beginning to make its way through the 1,000 miles of county roads to fill in pot holes, which will allow for a smoother driving experience. In addition, the county will begin resealing the chip and seal that was placed on Limestone two years ago.

Killion said anyone who needs more information or has concerns about county road conditions can call the public works department at (620) 223-3800 or contact his or her county commissioner.